Swimming appliance



Oct. 3l, 1933. A. N. PHILLIPS, JR

SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 7. 1930 smania til Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to swimming appliances, more particularly to buoyant belt-like garments adapted to support children and beginners while they are learning to swim.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device which is capable of several degrees of buoyancy.

Another object is to produce means for quickly and easily changing the buoyancy to a predetermined degree, depending upon the weight of the swimmer and his increase in prociency.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the appliance complete with shoulder straps and a belt, and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing in dotted lines the enclosed sectional buoyant units.

Referring to the drawing, the body or" the device is composed of Wing members 10 made of a A suitable fabric and connected by a tubular band 11. The wing members are or bag-like structure and have openings 12 at their extremities securable in any advantageous manner as by the lacing 13. Within the members 10 are a plurality of removable pads 14 which are composedrof a buoyant material, such as kapok. It is evident that the pads 14 can be readily removed or inserted to attain a predetermined degree of buoyancy. A lining l5, also made of a buoyant substance, extends from one wing through the band 11 to the opposite wing and may be secured permanently in place.

A double suspender strap 16, adapted to go over the wearers shoulders, is fastened to the band f' 11 on each side of its middle point. This strap carries a loop 17 adapted to receive a body-encircling belt 18 which passes through the band 1l and may be arranged to encircle the body of the wearer.

Thus it will be seen that a person learning to swim may begin with all of the pads 14 in use and will, as he progresses, from time to time remove a pad from each wing member to decrease the buoyancy of the device until its further use is unnecessary.

The invention is not restricted to the construction herein shown and described, as manifestly it may be embodied in various styles and materials to suit individual taste and the age and size of the prospective users, respectively.

What I claim is:

1. A swimming appliance comprising a body portion, means for securing the device to the wearer, independently removable buoyant members within said body and a buoyant lining in the body member to keep it afloat when the removable members are not in place.

2. In a swimming appliance, a body portion comprising wing-like members adapted to removably receive sectional buoyant elements, a tubular portion connecting said Wing-like members, a buoyant lining in the tubular portion extending into the Wings and means for securing the device to the person of the wearer.

3. In a swimming appliance, a body comprising Wing members having openings to admit buoyant elements, a tubular portion connecting the Wings, a buoyant lining in said wings and tubular portion, a double suspender strap on said tubular portion and a body encircling belt which enters the wing members near their junction with said tubular member and through which the belt passes.

4. A swimming appliance comprising Wing members l0 connected by a tubular portion 11, said Wing membersV having openings 12 and adapted to receive a plurality of independently removable buoyant elements le, a buoyant lining 15 in the tubular portion and Wing members, means for closing the openings 12, and means for securing the device to the person of the wearer.

ALFRED N. PHILLIPS, JR. 

